Social activists, artists, writers and professionals from various other fields launched a national campaign for secularism under the platform of Janvadi Vichar Andolan Bharat (JAVAB) to defeat communal forces in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
"Activists, academicians, artists, writers and social workers have come together to form a national platform for secularism called Janvadi Vichar Andolan Bharat (JAVAB) to counter communal forces in the forthcoming elections and advocate a truly inclusive society," a statement by JAVAB said here today.
"This platform will be guided by sensibilities like dignity for Dalits, rights of Adivasis and other marginalised communities like pastoralists, fisherfolk, landless wage labourers, as well as informal and casual labourers, besides democratic aspirations of people everywhere in the country," a JAVAB press statement said.
The statement said that while the platform is not aligned to any particular party, efforts would be made to appeal to all secular forces to ensure that the anti-communal vote does not splinter.
The statement said that many people from across India had already endorsed this platform and local branches would be formed in select constituencies soon.
According to the statement, local committees would conduct door-to-door campaigns, hold peace meetings, foster dialogue between communities, ensure that people's issues remain at the centre of the election campaign, and be vigilant against any communal or fascist propaganda.
